Judith nodded in an ambiguous manner. Mary Ann had told her something similar that she had heard from the maids, but she was not interested. It was right to say that whether Krald got married or not, she had more important things to worry about and did not care.
Even in her last life, Krald had a Princess. But Judith had never had a proper conversation with her. She didn't even know which family she was from. She may have picked up a few rumors, but now she can't even remember.
Bartholomew said.
“I don’t know if it’s an accurate rumor, but they say she’s the daughter of Count Bloset. The Queen’s closest maid is now Countess Bloset.”
“Is she a close maid?”
The first thing that came to mind was Helen's face, but Judith soon realized that she was already dead. In that case, she must be the woman who came to call her the other day. Judith tilted her head, vaguely recalling the woman's face that looked weak and timid from the look in her eyes.
“Is the Count Bloset a family with great influence in social circles?”
“Not at all. The current head of the family, the Count, is a libertine who lives only in gambling and entertainment. He gave away all of his meager wealth, and rumor has it that he even mortgaged or sold the land in the earldom.”
“Why does the Queen want to marry a girl from such a family as a Princess? She’s unbelievable.”
“That’s why there are so many behind-the-scenes rumors. Krald's behavior is so dirty that he dares to mess with Count Bloset's daughter...”
Bartholomew, who continued speaking, suddenly glanced at Judith and Cheraan and cleared his throat. However, even without listening, it was obvious what was to be said next.
“...Anyway, there are rumors that that is why it is so, but it is not easy to believe. Unless the Queen has some dark intentions, there is no way she would tolerate such a family as a partner for her beloved son.”
“She may have chosen a card that is easy to use.”
Judith's voice was very cold, unlike usual. Bartholomew and Cheraan tilted their heads at the same time.
“Her purpose would ultimately be to put Krald on the throne. In that case, the Princess’s biological family would be the closest maternal relatives to the royal family, and if the power of that family were to go beyond the controllable range, she would have judged that it would be a problem in the future.”
“So you’re saying that you deliberately chose the humble family?”
Cheraan asked, blinking. Judith nodded.
“I said that Count Bloset was not a proper person. Such people would be more loyal to power and money than anything else, but if they don't have anything, wouldn't it be nice to pamper them relatively cheaply? It would be perfect for use.”
“Since Your Highness said that, I feel a bit bad for that Lady.”
Judith's gaze slowly moved towards the window. In the end, it was as if Queen Gilsis had caught another victim after her. She doesn't know what kind of person the Lady of Count Bloset is, but it won't be easy for her to endure the violent temper of Krald and Queen Gilsis.
“Now that I think about it, Your Highness, can you stay here like this?”
Cheraan suddenly asked. Judith looked at her with a puzzled expression, as if wondering what that meant. A mischievous smile appeared on Cheraan's face.
“I heard that His Highness Franz is leaving in four days. Then you have to stay with him for at least an hour longer. What if you stay here with us like this?”
“Cheraan!”
Only then did Judith realize that she had been teased, and her face turned bright red. Cheraan laughed and playfully grabbed Judith's shoulders and pretended to throw her out.
"Come on! Don’t do this, Cheraan! Bartholomew, stop her!”
“Sorry, Your Highness. I also think what Ms. Ebelta said is right. That Franz is so old that he doesn’t say anything, so I have a feeling he’s probably waiting for you with his head broken.”
It was absurd. Instead of continuing his words, Judith looked at Bartholomew as if asking how he could betray her like this. However, being pushed around by the two people, she had already reached the entrance to Astel Palace.
“Your Highness!”
Nadine must have heard the commotion and came running out from inside. When he glanced at Judith's face, his face turned red.
“What do you do?”
"I do not know. He told me to bring the tea and just got inside...”
“Okay, I understand.”
Judith sheepishly shook off Cheraan's hand that kept poking her side and went inside. Cheraan turned around, giggling like a prankster, and Bartholomew, who was about to walk away with her, suddenly turned his head.
"You."
Then Nadine, who had been mesmerized while looking at the place where Judith had entered, lowered her head in surprise.
“Yes, did you call me?”
Bartholomew's lips touched once. Nadine, who was bending her waist, looked like she had just become a servant.
Nadine's eyes as she looked at Judith were those of a boy in love. Bartholomew tried to point out that this was disrespectful, but as the young boy looked down at his formidable figure, he wondered if he would ever be more strict than necessary.
“What’s your name?”
"Ah. My... My name is Nadine, master.”
“Nadine, it’s good. Please remember what I say. When you walk in and out of the royal palace, your eyes are bound to grow high, whether you are a servant or a nobleman's child. But the most important thing is to determine whether it is high enough to reach out or not.”
"Yes? Well, that’s...”
“Think carefully about what I'm saying. You have to be smart enough to serve the Prince well.”
Nadine didn't have the courage to ask again what he was talking about. In front of Bartholomew, who seemed to be twice as tall as him, Nadine looked very intimidated and only answered that he understood.
***
She knocked, but there was no answer, so Judith quietly opened the door and entered Franz's bedroom. They must have been organizing their luggage, and there were large leather bags lying around in the room.
After putting the almost finished cup of tea on the table, he leaned his head against the window and closed his eyes. Perhaps he had fallen into a short nap, but the interval between his slightly parted lips and his breathing was constant. Judith muffled the sound of her footsteps and walked up to his side, staring at him silently as he did not make a move. Suddenly, she felt as if tears were welling up in her eyes.
After crying and hugging each other, Franz wiped Judith's wet face with a shy expression. She laughed because she didn't seem to know that she was a mess of tears.
When Judith laughed, Franz's neck turned red, perhaps from embarrassment, and then he laughed. Then, after hesitating for a long time, before leaving the room, he gave Judith a kiss that barely grazed her forehead.
- Good night.
Although Judith did not look at her own expression in the mirror at that time, she thought it was probably a sight to behold. She had already been married to Franz for one life, and this was the second time, but it was the first time he had kissed her like that.
In her previous life, he was extremely reluctant to touch Judith. When he became an adult, he had to sleep with her because of his royal duties, but he only did it once. Even so, it was completely impossible after Franz's mania began to develop in earnest.
It was not because Franz disliked Judith. Rather, he was closer to being afraid that he would do harm to Judith, but Judith did not know that at the time. And she still couldn't imagine that it would be like that.
Therefore, Judith did not know what to do with that sudden and shy kiss. Franz also couldn't wait for Judith to react. Judith, who had been staring blankly at his back as he hurriedly left the Princess's palace as if he had committed a theft, turned away without saying a word, touching her fevered forehead.
When that incident came back to her, her cheeks turned red. Judith, who was just looking at the sleeping Franz, suddenly came closer to him. She didn't know where that courage came from, but she reached out and touched his hair.
She felt a soft touch. At the same time, she remembered the voice he had called her, “Judith.”
She couldn't tell if it was the Franz here or the Franz she met in her past life. But just thinking about it made one part of her heart tingle.
There was a time when she felt like her heart would explode just by hearing his voice, and she was so scared that she couldn't bear it. She felt embarrassed and sorry whenever she encountered him day or night. There were more than once or twice that he wanted to hide somewhere. She was too shabby to stand by Franz's side and was nothing but an obstacle in his otherwise difficult life. That was why she had no choice but to run away at the slightest sign of him approaching.
“...”
Judith, who was lost in thought while slowly stroking the hair that slipped between her fingers, did not notice Franz open his eyes. The small fingertips that were moving slowly were quietly caught by Franz's hand. Judith then looked down at him in surprise.
“Uh, Your Highness.”
Franz grinned without answering. Judith, whose face turned red and tried to hurriedly pull her hand away, was startled. That's because Franz held onto her hand and wouldn't let go.
“Your hand...”
“You are such a strange person.”
What does it mean? Judith raised her surprised eyes and looked at Franz. He then gently let go of Judith's hand and smiled calmly.
“You don’t feel intimidated or scared at all in situations that would make anyone scared, but in times like this, you seem to be afraid for some reason.”
Her heart sank. She wanted to say it wasn't like that, but for some reason, no sound came out, as if her throat was clogged. The thought of what if he misunderstood that she was reluctant to Franz, and what if he distanced her this time like last time, made Judith anxious.
“I’m not afraid, Your Highness. It's not like that...”
Judith, who was feeling restless, noticed that Franz's gaze towards her was as warm as before. His speechless lips trembled.
“I am afraid.”
It was Franz who spoke first. Judith's eyes widened at his unexpected words.
There was a time when she felt like her heart would explode just by hearing his voice, and she was so scared that she couldn't bear it. She felt embarrassed and sorry whenever she encountered him day or night. There were more than once or twice that he wanted to hide somewhere. She was too shabby to stand by Franz's side and was nothing but an obstacle in his otherwise difficult life. That was why she had no choice but to run away at the slightest sign of him approaching.
“...”
Judith, who was lost in thought while slowly stroking the hair that slipped between her fingers, did not notice Franz open his eyes. The small fingertips that were moving slowly were quietly caught by Franz's hand. Judith then looked down at him in surprise.
“Uh, Your Highness.”
Franz grinned without answering. Judith, whose face turned red and tried to hurriedly pull her hand away, was startled. That's because Franz held onto her hand and wouldn't let go.
“Your hand...”
“You are such a strange person.”
What does it mean? Judith raised her surprised eyes and looked at Franz. He then gently let go of Judith's hand and smiled calmly.
“You don’t feel intimidated or scared at all in situations that would make anyone scared, but in times like this, you seem to be afraid for some reason.”
Her heart sank. She wanted to say it wasn't like that, but for some reason, no sound came out, as if her throat was clogged. The thought of what if he misunderstood that she was reluctant to Franz, and what if he distanced her this time like last time, made Judith anxious.
“I’m not afraid, Your Highness. It's not like that...”
Judith, who was feeling restless, noticed that Franz's gaze towards her was as warm as before. His speechless lips trembled.
“I am afraid.”
It was Franz who spoke first. Judith's eyes widened at his unexpected words.
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